SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The Treasure Valley Racing Association (TVRA) has warned state representatives, that Senate Bill 1011 will effectively kill horse racing in Idaho. Bill 1011 which is currently being processed by the state senate aims to shut down fixed odds betting terminals to consumers.
State officials passed the laws banning terminals at race tracks, stating that the terminals were too similar to casino slot machines, which breached state licensing laws.
TVRA President John Sheldon has threatened to close down Idaho Les Bois Park race track permanently if the bill is passed, as the terminals were the main source of revenues and funding for its business.
Sheldon stated to local news sources
“We’ve spent a lot of time educating different members of the legislature; I mean I think it’s noteworthy that when it came out of the House State of Affairs Committee they brought it forward with no recommendation and typically they would have a do-pass recommendation. I think this is a difficult bill for them. This is an anti-business bill,”
Sheldon added that the TVRA race track employed over 250 people during its summer months and that last year the track paid $1 million in state taxes.
